"A LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE" - NONSUCH BAY RESORT Tuesday 26th June 2012
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Have a read below of this excellent review of NonSuch Bay Resort.
"I can honestly say I've never been so sad to leave a holiday destination and return home; we're already planning to go back later this year! We read the Trip Advisor reviews but decided to keep an open mind - and neither of us have anything but praise for the resort or it's wonderful staff.
The words we heard most often were "no problem" and "you're welcome", which pretty much sums up this beautiful island and it's people. Having read other reviews, we weren't sure quite what to expect in terms of the road to the resort, but it isn't too bad at all - a couple of major potholes and some goats with good brakes made us laugh; the last couple of miles isn't Tarmac, but somehow adds to the charm of being 'away from it all'. Nonsuch Bay is a quiet resort (exactly why we picked it) so if you're after nightlife and organised events, this isn't the place for you. It's been laid out in a horseshoe-shape and on different levels, but it certainly shouldn't present you with problems getting around. In terms of cash, we brought East Caribbean Dollars because the exchange rate was good, but everything is priced in either USD or ECD - we were also pleased that drinks were not ridiculously expensive at the resort. You can stock your full-size fridge with beer or soft drinks without needing a second mortgage!
Accommodation - we were upgraded on arrival to a two-bed beach front bungalow, which was perfect for our two week stay; just yards from the beach with a huge verandah which we used for drinks/chilling out every day. There was air-conditioning in the open-plan kitchen/dining/seating area and also in the bedrooms, which we made use of in the evenings. Great showers and a jacuzzi bath were much appreciated after a hard day lying in the sun! The kitchen was well-equipped, but we didn't use it for anything more adventurous than brewing a pot of coffee or mixing a G&T. We did make use of the free wi-fi and the iPod dock for some music (the TV went on for about 10 minutes during our stay) and house-keeping was mainly provided by Donna, who provided us with extra decaf coffee and clean linen. We also shared the verandah with birds and tiny gold and green lizards, who were very shy once they knew you'd seen them! We brought a plug-in mozzie killer with us and used a DEET-based spray - only got nibbled a couple of times (I'm usually a magnet for biting critters, so we either did the right thing or there weren't many about!)
Beach/Pool - we normally use the pool area on holiday, but with the beach so close we didn't bother. There are three pools, all infinity edge style, and beautifully maintained. The beach isn't huge, but there were palm trees, plenty of sun loungers and on a number of days we had the place to ourselves. Other reviews have mentioned the seaweed on the shoreline, but the staff rake it up on a daily basis and it didn't bother us at all. The sea was the warmest I've ever known (better than the Maldives!) and was lovely for paddling and swimming - while we were there, families with babies were happy to splash about late in the afternoon, which was lovely to see.
Sailing - the primary reason for our holiday (apart from chilling out) was to sail dinghies somewhere warmer than Nottinghamshire and we were out on the water most days. There are various sizes of dinghy, as well as Hobie catamarans, and the instructors will do individual sessions if you fancy learning to sail (this costs about 50EC dollars an hour, and wasn't included in the half-board & sailing package we booked). Leslie and his team are very safety conscious and this is a wonderful place for a novice to make mistakes, or a more experienced crew to erase their bad habits! They can also arrange kite surfing lessons from Chris - am still regretting not having a go, and another great reason to come back. And if you've never been trapezing on a Hobie, you haven't lived!! I'm not the world's best crew by a long shot, but I was screaming with exhilaration and soaked to the skin within five minutes of getting out on the wire - seriously, have a go..
Restaurant/Food - just wonderful! Our package included breakfast and evening meals, so we tended not to bother with lunch (it would be very easy to put on loads of weight here!) The menu isn't vast, but there were specials available during our stay (duck, mahi mahi, lamb and fillet steak, for example) and it was never an issue if we wanted to mix things up. I recommend the lobster, the conch chowder and the soft shell crab! Great cocktails on demand and the service was second to none. We preferred to eat early (reserve for dinner, which starts at 6.30pm) and on some nights had the restaurant to ourselves; other reviewers have commented on slow service, but that was definitely not our experience. The restaurant and bar staff were lovely, very attentive and with a great sense of humour once we got to know them a little.
Out and about - we had a day trip into St John's, which was very interesting, and also went to Shirley Heights and Nelson's Dockyard. We didn't bother with car rental, our reception ladies booked us taxis through Vernon's and we had as much fun chatting to our drivers as we would have done navigating round the island by ourselves (there are very few road signs, so you'll need a sense of adventure and a good map!) There were various days out on offer, including circumnavigating the island on a catamaran, but we didn't feel the need on this trip - maybe next time?
While we were there, NSB hosted the 'Destination Wedding 2012' for an English couple who live in New York - the ceremony was broadcast on Antiguan tv, which caused great excitement! Weddings are still relatively new at Nonsuch Bay by comparison with some of the other resorts, but if you were after something low-key and informal, it would be perfect. I think there are photos on the official government website (ab.gov.ag).
Well, this review has gone on for much longer than I anticipated, but I hope it's been helpful. Seriously, if you're looking for a fabulous place to relax and unwind, you need look no further - enjoy!
Room Tip: If you can afford the beach front bungalows, I'd highly recommend them.
See more room tips
- Posted by DixieandJo from Nottingham, United Kingdom on June 21 who travelled as a couple. Click here to view this and more reviews of NonSuch Bay Resort on tripadvisor.com.
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